Below is a listing of frequently asked questions. These questions can be sorted by selecting a category in the drop down menu. If you do not find the answer to your question below, please contact us and we will be happy to assist you.

FAQs

Unless they are a member of a group that is exempted from the license requirements, Florida residents are required to order a saltwater fishing license before attempting to take saltwater species from the shore or a pier, bridge or jetty attached to the shore.

Residents who only saltwater fish from the land or a structure attached to land, may get the resident recreational saltwater shoreline fishing license at no cost (except for convenience fees that apply on telephone and Internet orders).

Nonresidents must purchase a 3-day, 7-day or annual nonresident saltwater fishing license when saltwater fishing from the shore or a pier, bridge or jetty attached to the shore unless fishing on a pier with a pier license.

Information provided by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. More information is available at MyFWC.com.

Florida Residents and Visitors need a Florida hunting, freshwater fishing or saltwater fishing license unless they are a member of a group that is exempted from the license requirements. Your license is required to be with you when you are engaged the licensed activity.

A fishing license is required to attempt to take fish. If you cast your line, catch nothing, catch and release, or catch and keep and you are not a member of one the groups listed below; you need a license. A saltwater fishing license is also required to attempt to take any native or nonnative marine organisms, such as crabs, lobsters, and marine plants.

Licenses and permits are required to help or assist in the take. Someone who is passively participating (setting decoys, calling birds or baiting hooks), whether actively fishing or hunting or not, must have a license.

Information provided by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. More information is available at MyFWC.com.

Youth under the age of 16 do not need a fishing license, although they must abide by all other fishing regulations such as gear type, bag and size limits. They may, however, be asked to provide proof of age.

Information provided by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. More information is available at MyFWC.com.

In general, you need a freshwater license to take freshwater fish and a saltwater license to take saltwater fish, unless one of the exemptions applies to your situation.

However, when you get into estuarine type areas where salt and fresh water commingle and fish of both types can be found the issue becomes less clear. The interpretation of the rule is:

You need either a freshwater, saltwater or combination license (or appropriate exemption) to take fish (take is legally defined as taking, attempting to take, pursuing, molesting, capturing, or killing any fish, or their nests or eggs by any means whether or not such actions result in obtaining possession of such fish or their nests or eggs).

If you are using species specific gear, your license should be appropriate (e.g., freshwater or saltwater) to the species you are targeting.

Otherwise you need an appropriate type license to keep your catch and must immediately release any species for which you are not licensed. License requirements follow the species of fish, regardless of where they are caught. In other words, if you only have a freshwater license and are primarily fishing for largemouth bass or bream (freshwater species) in a river, but happen to catch a red drum (a saltwater species), you must immediately release the red drum.

Information provided by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. More information is available at MyFWC.com.

Some hunting and fishing licenses are available from the Lee County Tax Collector offices. Likewise, many bait-and-tackle shops and sports retailers (e.g., Wal-Mart, K-Mart, Sports Authority) sell licenses, for a small additional fee. Licenses are also available via the Internet or a toll free call to credit card users, for an additional convenience fee.

Contact us for more information on obtaining a license from the Lee County Tax Collector.

Information provided by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. More information is available at MyFWC.com.

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